In short, when despite witnessing all the miracles and Prophetic teachings the Pharaoh refused to accept guidance, Allaah^-SWT commanded Prophet Musa^-AS, to take "My^-SWT slaves”, that is Bani Israil, by night out from the kingdom of Pharaoh to rid them of his atrocities. Although Bani Israil had erred time and again yet because of their association with Prophet Musa^--AS. Allaah^-SWT has conferred upon them the title of ‘My^-SWT Slaves'.

The Barakah Association with the Men of Allah^-SWT

In other words, the association with the men of Allaah^-SWT is a great award and a source of attaining His^-SWT Mercy.

Prophet Musa^-AS was commanded to lead the Bani Israil towards the sea. On reaching the coast, he was to strike the water with his staff and as a result dry pathways would open out in the sea, without a trace of dampness. Besides, Allaah^-SWT gave him the assurance that he need not worry of being caught by the Pharaoh, nor fear drowning. Relying completely on Him^-SWT , he must simply get on the move. Prophet Musa^-AS set out with Bani Israil by night by Allah^-SWT's Command. In early hours of the following morning, the Pharaoh got a wind of the escape. He immediately took his legions out to follow the fugitives. By then the Bani Israil had arrived at the coast. The Quran also reveals in another Ayah that the Bani Israil had exclaimed: "we have been caught", but Prophet Musa^--AS reassured them that the Munificent Rabb^-SWT was with him.

As he struck his staff, there emerged twelve pathways in the sea separated by high walls of water. So each tribe followed a path and as they walked on they could see one other through and even talk among themselves. When the Pharaoh arrived, they were right in the middle of the sea. In hot pursuit, he led his army onto these pathways. Halfway through, when the Bani Israil had crossed over to the other side, the water reverted to its normal flow drowning everyone including Pharaoh himself .And they all perished .It was not only a worldly catastrophe but the ill fated Pharaoh had also led his people into the eternal disaster by misguiding them.

Allah^-SWT addressed the Bani Israil that He^-SWT had destroyed their worst enemy and spared them his atrocities. He^-SWT promised them another favour, and Commanded them to proceed to the Valley on the right flank of Mount Tur so that they be handed down a Divine Scripture .And when they were stranded in the Valley of Taiah, Allaah^-SWT sent down fast food for them in the form of sweets and quails and bid them to enjoy it without exceeding the limits, that is, not to disobey Him^{-SWT .} Neither must they try to snatch others ‘ share, nor resort to hoarding, for in that case they were sure to invite Allah^-SWT's Wrath, and whoever incurs it shall stand devastated. And anyone who repents and mends his ways will find Allaah^-SWT extremely Clement and Forgiving.

Striving is Imperative

Prophet Musa^-AS set out eagerly after appointing Prophet Harun^-AS as the acting Amir, for he knew that the caravan would move at its own pace while he had the Divine Orders to fast for thirty days (later extended to forty) after arriving at Tur .It was then that the Book was given to him. In other words, striving is imperative for receiving Barakah.

Violating Allah^-SWT ’s and Prophet^-AS’s Commands causes Distress both in Din and Worldly Affairs

However, the Bani Israil failed to reach the Valley, for according to the Commentators, they disputed among themselves and stayed back .As a punishment, they were put to trial. A magician amongst them by the name of Samri, outwardly a believer, moulded a calf and invited them to its worship which some of the ignorant promptly obeyed. On the other end, Allaah^-SWT asked Prophet Musa^-AS why had he arrived ahead of his nation^? The Prophet^-AS apologised and explained that he had thought that they too would arrive soon being right behind him, while his passion to be in His^-SWT Presence caused the haste.

Allah^-SWT informed him that the Bani Israil had been put to trial by Him^-SWT for abandoning their journey. Samri had misguided them and right now some of them were busy worshipping the calf. Prophet Musa^-AS was deeply hurt and exasperated. He^-AS returned to his people in fury and saw for himself what he had been told. He^-AS asked his people why had they forgotten the sublime reward Allaah^-SWT had promised them upon reaching the Valley? It was not something to be forgotten. It was indeed their misfortune to have invoked Allah^-SWT ’s Wrath by discontinuing the journey. They pleaded that they had not done it wilfully, because a strange thing had happened. They were carrying along a lot of jewellery belonging to the People of the Pharaoh which they cast into fire on orders of Prophet Harun^--AS, who had announced that it was sinful to keep the possessions of the infidels. So it was decided to melt the ornaments and keep the gold in its basic form until Prophet Musa^-AS returned to decide the final disposal. But it so happened that Samri had picked up some soil from the footprints of Angel Jibril^-AS’s horse, after observing that the soil beneath its hooves would quicken into greenery.

He had then moulded the ornaments into a calf which produced some sort of sound. Some of the Commentators assert that it was simply a statue with apertures through which the wind whistled. But from the performance of Samri, a majority of Commentators agree that the calf did show signs of life, and one of them was, that it produced the sound.

And Samri told them that the calf indeed was their God as well as Musa^-AS, who had by mistake gone elsewhere while his God was speaking through the calf. Allaah^-SWT questions that even if there was a sound, whether it was answering their calls or had become the master of their gain or loss? It was only by witnessing a wonder that the foolish had believed the calf to be their God.